West Point *** (1928, William Haines, Joan Crawford, William Bakewell) – Classic Movie Review 7639

Director Edward Sedgwick’s humorous black and white silent romantic drama movie West Point (1927) stars William Haines as wealthy, talented but arrogant sportsman Brice Wayne, who enters West Point and succeeds at football but alienates the other cadets and also manages to alienate the pretty young woman he meets, hotel owner’s daughter Betty Channing (Joan Crawford). Haines and Crawford follow their 1927 hit Spring Fever with this success.

Brice Wayne is so arrogant that he shouts “To hell with the Corps!’ when disciplined by the coach, and resigns, despite the intervention of his hero-worshipping roommate ‘Tex’ McNeil (William Bakewell). But Brice finally learns humility and, just before the big all-important Army versus Navy game, he returns to lead his team and reunite with Betty Channing. The moral is that you have to fit in, be a team player, and when you are you will keep the boys happy and get the girl.

It was filmed largely on location at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York state, and in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios, 10202 West Washington Blvd, Culver City, California.

Haines repeats his tried and tested formula from films like Spring Fever, Brown of Harvard and The Smart Set to considerable success, and of course it is nice to set him romantically paired on screen again with his loyal friend Joan Crawford.

The story and screenplay are by Raymond L Schrock, with titles by Joseph Farnham. The same story was used for the DeMille Company’s 1927 Dress Parade with William Boyd and Bessie Love.

Also in the cast are Neil Neely as Bob Sperry, Ralph Emerson as Bob Chase, Leon Kellar as Captain Munson and Raymond G Moses as Coach Towers.

West Point was released on DVD through the Warner Archive Collection in March 2009.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Classic Movie Review 7639

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